Monday, November 12, 2012

I can't tell you how much fun I am having rediscovering collage! I mean, I know we did it in elementary school (it's just cut and paste, after all), and one of my favourite gifts to my Dad on Father's Day involves a piece of wood and some collaged wallpaper frogs (is anyone surprised I used frogs? And that I still own said piece of wood?), but I had no idea how beautiful grown-up collage could be!Lately, I've been spending time on Pinterest, pinning collages and art journal pages. Such gorgeous creations by such talented people. I can only hope, one day, to make the kind of interesting and amazing collages I find there.Here are a few of my favourite collage artists (found on Pinterest, of course!):Brenda FigueroaVirginia TilleryThe Kathryn WheelSo, I have an ever-growing list of people I would like to make collages for. I'm doubtful that they will all be done in the next 6 weeks, in time for Christmas gift-giving, but I'm excited by the thought of spending lots of time trying to get them all done! I don't want it to turn into a job, however, so I'm just going to have fun and see how far I get. The one pictured above is finished, I think. When I compare it to other collages, it seems too simple. I know, I shouldn't compare myself to other people. I should do what my heart wants to do and be happy with it. But this is something I struggle with - am I good enough? is my art good enough? is it good enough to give as gifts to other people or will they make fun of it after I have left?

Sigh. I guess I should read the verse on this collage again:

The purpose of life is to discover your gift.The meaning of life is to give it away.

Friday, November 2, 2012

With the holidays approaching, it's time to think about holiday gift making! To
introduce my new monthly newsletter for Monsoon Calamity Patterns, I am
offering a coupon code for 30% off your entire purchase in my Etsy store to anyone who signs up for the newsletter! The coupon code can also be used on my patterns (Monsoon Calamity) on Ravelry!How do you sign up? Just send an email to mcpatternsnewsletter@ymail.com,let me know, and I'll send out your coupon code; if you don't respond, I'll take you off my list - it's that easy!There's
no need to worry that I will send too many emails - I promise that I'm
too busy to send out more than one a month (I homeschool my son who has Asperger's and whom I adore beyond words, and that takes up most of my
time). I was just looking for a way to say thanks to everyone who has
supported my little shop and also to let you know about upcoming pattern
releases and sales - I have a few baby blanket patterns, including my first knit pattern, that are almost ready to be released!. I promise I will never give your information to anyone else.This offer is available to anyone - please pass this information on to anyone you know who might be interested!I look forward to hearing from you :) Happy Stitching!Cindy

Note:
The monthly newsletter will be released from this email address:
mcpatternsnewsletter@ymail.com - please add this email address to your
contacts to make sure you don't miss the newsletter! Thanks!